African-Americans and Multiple Sclerosis

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – African-Americans may have a higher risk, rather than lower risk, of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than Caucasians, according to a new study led by the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, California.

Researchers found that African-Americans had a 47 percent increased risk of MS compared with Caucasians, while Hispanics and Asians had a 58 and 80 percent lower risk than Caucasians. The higher risk in African-Americans was found in women only whereas the lower risk for Hispanics and Asians was found in both sexes. African-American women had three times the risk of MS compared to African-American men.